The federal judiciary has learned of an email scam in which emails purporting to come from federal and state courts are infecting recipients with computer viruses.

According to the Security Operations Center of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the emails instruct recipients to report to a hearing on a specified day and time. The emails also instruct recipients to review an attached document for detailed case information.

When the attachments or links in the email are opened, a malicious program is launched that infects the recipient’s computer. Several state courts have reported similar schemes and are likewise warning the public about potential viruses.

Unless people are actively involved in federal court cases and have consented to receive court notifications electronically, they generally will not be served with court documents electronically.

Anyone receiving such emails, regarding federal court cases or other matters of which they are unaware, should contact the federal court in their jurisdiction before opening any attachments or links. They can use the court locator to find the contact information for the court in their jurisdiction.